Hawaii-2011-HCR35-Introduced

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation is the nation's fourth largest public health care organization and comprises Hilo Medical Center, Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua, and Ka‘u Hospital (East Hawaii Region); Kona Community Hospital and Kohala Hospital (West Hawaii Region); Maui Memorial Medical Center, Lanai Community Hospital, and Kula Hospital (Maui Region); Leahi Hospital and Maluhia (Oahu Region); Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital and Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital (Kauai Region); Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home - Hilo; Roselani Place - Maui; Ali‘i Health Center - West Hawaii; and affiliate Hawaii Health Systems Corporation facility Kahuku Medical Center - Oahu; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation provides medical care services throughout the State and in most cases Hawaii Health Systems Corporation facilities are the only healthcare facilities in the rural areas of the State; and

WHEREAS, the 24/7 acute and long-term care medical services provided by Hawaii Health Systems Corporation employees make their work unique and different from other government workers in the State; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to section 89-6(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation employees are included in seven bargaining units that also include employees of other public employers; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to section 89-6(d), Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation is allowed but a single vote for the purpose of negotiating collective bargaining agreements with the exclusive representatives of its employees and making decisions as part of the public employer group; and

WHEREAS, section 89-8.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, only authorizes the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to negotiate with exclusive representatives and execute memorandums of understanding to alter collective bargaining agreements; and

WHEREAS, the present structure of chapter 89, Hawaii Revised Statutes, restricts the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation's ability to independently negotiate collective bargaining agreements that would allow the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to expeditiously respond to and address the unique issues inherent in its 24/7 hospital operations, including census, acuity, process improvement, and most importantly, quality patient care; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that the rapid changes taking place in the health care industry, the impending implementation of national health care reform, and the current state of the economy render imperative the need to give the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation the appropriate flexibility and autonomy needed to manage its employees; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the Senate concurring, that the House of Representatives and the Senate are requested to convene a joint informational public hearing for the purpose of:

(1) Evaluating the feasibility of establishing new and separate bargaining units for Hawaii Health Systems Corporation employees and allowing the corporation to enter into its own collective bargaining agreements with these units; and

(2) Identifying any statutory or other amendments that may be necessary to effectuate the foregoing and to facilitate the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation's commitment and ability to provide quality health care for the people of Hawaii through the State's community-hospital system; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor, Department of Health, Department of Human Resources Development, Office of Collective Bargaining and Managed Competition, Hawaii Labor Relations Board, Hawaii Government Employees Association, United Public Workers, each county mayor, and the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, including representatives of each regional system and corporate board of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, are requested to participate in the informational public hearing; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate appoint members from each house of the Legislature to constitute a joint committee for the purpose of conducting the informational public hearing; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Speaker of the House of Representatives; President of the Senate; mayor of each county; Director of Health, Director of Human Resources Development, Chief Negotiator for the State, Chairperson of the Hawaii Labor Relations Board, Executive Director of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, State Director of the United Public Workers, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Chairperson of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Board of Directors, and the Chairperson of each Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Regional System Board of Directors.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; Collective Bargaining

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	35
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII